Boiler feed and fuel control float construction



June 1951 E. J. LE CLAIRE ET AL 2,556,588

BOILER FEED AND FUEL CONTROL FLOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I game/WM 1 [agave J Ze Claire 9 13 14 fiemard Jfiemzman June 1951 E. J. LE CLAIRE ETAL 2,556,588

BOILER FEED AND FUEL CONTROL FLOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 --1 1: i. I I J +--42 H 29 I g 40 3933 34 50 J 2 30 JyvumvfM Eugene J Le Claire BemaIdJ/EQMZMaJZ Patented June 12, 1951 BOILER FEED AND FUEL CONTROL FLOAT CONSTRUCTION Eugene J. Le Claire and Bernard J. Heinzman, St. Paul, Minn., assignors to Harry F. Joesting,

St. Paul, Minn.

Application August 11, 1945, Serial No. 610,218

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to an improvement in float construction wherein it is desired to provide a signal when the fluid supply to the float decreases.

In many liquid systems, such as in supplying water to a boiler, it is desirable to provide some automatic means of cutting off fuel to the boiler, if the flow of liquid decreases. In the event the fluid supply to the float should cease the continued application of heat to the boiler might cause the boiler to run dry and possibly to explode. Various types of alarms have been previously provided to produce an indication when the water supply is cut ofi. Many of these previous devices, however, are dependent upon manual operation to cut off the fuel supply to the boiler and therefore are not completely automatic.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a float device which is operable to supply fluid to a boiler or the like. The float is maintained at the level of liquid in the boiler and is connected to the boiler in such a way that the liquid may flow by gravity into the boiler when the fluid level therein drops. In conjunction with the fluid used for maintaining the proper water level, I provide a means for automatically cutting the supply of fuel to the boiler in the event the water supply to the fluid chamber should be cut off.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that our apparatus will operate automatically when the liquid level in the fluid chamber drops below a predetermined minimum. Our device is so arranged that when the boiler is developing a high pressure, the fuel supply to the boiler will be more quickly cut off than where the boiler pressure is relatively low. In our apparatus the supply of fuel is cut off by the action of steam under pressure. Therefore when the boiler is developing steam at high pressure, the operation will take place more quickly than when low pressure steam is being produced.

These and other objects and novel features of our invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of our specification:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a boiler feed system showing our float in conjunction therewith.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the float chamber showing the arrangement of the parts thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the operating mechanism of our float. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a detailed portion of our construction.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, we have disclosed diagrammatically, a boiler feed system for feeding water to a boiler while pressure is being developed therein. In Figure 1 we disclose a boiler II] and a source of heat applied thereto, which is indicated in the drawings as a gas plate I I. The gas plate II is supplied with gas and air in the usual manner through the inlet pipe l2, which in turn is supplied with gas entering through the gas supply pipe I3. A valve I4 is interposed in the gas supply line IS. The valve M is provided with a weighted handle 15, which is movable between the position illustrated in full lines in the drawing and the closed position indicated in dotted outline. In normal condition of the boiler the valve [4 is open and the weighted handle F5 is held in elevated position by means of a chain l6 attached to a friction cap I! which will be later described in detail.

Water for the boiler 5B is supplied through the feed line I9 connected to the bottom of the float chamber 20. The top of the float cahmber is connected by the equalizing line 2| to the top of the boiler it. Thus the pressure of steam within the boiler is transmitted to the surface of liquid within the float valve, equalizing pressure on opposite sides of the float so that liquid may flow by gravity from the fluid chamber 20 into the boiler Ill.

The float chamber 20 is supplied with liquid entering through the fluid supply line 22 from the supply tank 23. A steam pressure line 24 extends into the top of the feed water supply chamber 23 to equalize pressure on the water therein so that water may flow of gravity through the feed line 22 to the float chamber. A water supply line 25 also leads into the supply chamber 23 and check valves 26 and 2'? in the steam and in the water line respectively, prevent cold water from being forced into the boiler through the steam line 24 and prevent steam from flowing into the water supply line 25.

With reference now to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the feed line 22 is connected to a nipple '29 extending through one end 30 of the fluid chamber 20. The nipple 29 is provided with a passageway 3| therethrough, which terminates in a valve seat 32. A plunger valve 33 which is guided by a partition 34 of the bracket 35 fits against the seat 32 in closed position of the valve to prevent fluid from enter ing the float chamber.

The plunger 33 is pivotally connected at 36 to a bell crank arm 31 which is pivoted at 39 to 3 the bracket 35. The bell crank arm 3? is threadably or otherwise attached to a boss on the float 4|. The float 4| is preferably a water tight air filled ball, but may be any other desired type of float.

The operation of the float is believed obvious from the foregoing description. When the float chamber 20 is empty, the weight of the ball 4| pivots the arm 3? in a counter-clockwise direction, thus withdrawing the plunger 33 away from the seat 32 and allowing water to flow into the valve chamber. When the liquid in the valve chamber reaches a predetermined level the float 4| has pivoted the arm 37 in a clockwise direction sufficiently to engage the plunger 33 against the seat 32, thus closing the valve and preventing additional water from entering the float chamber. As soon as the level in the chamber drops the valve 33 will be withdrawn from its seat, allowing additional liquid to enter.

Attached to the ball ll we provide a hook 42. This hook 42 engages over one end 43 of a lever arm 44. The lever arm 46 is supported by the pivot 45 which extends through the bracket arms 46 on the inner end of the tube 41. The tube 41 is externally threaded at 49 and extends through the end 50 of the float chamber. A lock nut 5| is provided on the tube 41 to hold the tube in adjusted position.

The projecting end 52 of the tube 4? is of smaller diameter than the remainder of the tube to permit the nut 5| to pass freely thereover. The projecting tube end 52 is provided with a smooth outer surface designed to frictionally engage the inner surface of the hollow cap ll. viously stated the cap I? is connected by the chain IE to the weighted handle |5 of the valve I4.

A needle valve 53 is pivotally connected at 54 to the arm 55 of the lever 44. The needle Valve 53 is provided with a pointed forward end 55 designed to engage in a valve seat 51 formed within the tube 41. The inner end of the tube is provided with a relatively large diameter passage 59 while the outer end of the tube is provided with a relatively small diameter passage 65, and the valve seat 5? is located between these different diameter passages.

A weight 6| is provided on one end of the lever arm 44, this weight 5! acting to normally urge the pointed end of the needle valve 53 against its seat 51. However, if the ball float 4| drops a suflicient distance within the float chamber the upper end 62 of the hook 42 will engage against the end 43 of the lever arm 44, thus swinging the lever 44 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 45. This action tends to withdraw the needle valve 53 from its seat 51, thereb permitting steam under pressure from within the float chamber to extend through the passage 60.

As the steam under pressure passes through the passage it forces the frictionally supported cap off the end of the tube portion 52, thus disengaging the cap from the tube. The cap I! is then free to fall, releasing the upward pull on the chain 55 and allowing the valve handle I5 to drop into the position indicated in dotted outline in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Thus it will be seen that the float 4| may operate in its normal manner to admit fluid into the float chamber 20, each time the lever arm 3! within the float chamber dropping slightly, the plunger valve 33 opening to admit additional fluid. However, should there be a failure in the As presupply of fluid to the tank, the float 4| will drop sufiiciently to cause the hook 42 to engage the end 43 of the lever 44, thereby withdrawing the needle valve 53 from its seat. The opening of the valve 43 permits a flow of steam under pres sure entirely through the tube 41, forcing the frictionally engaged cap if out of place.

In accordance with the patent statutes, We have described the principles of construction and operation of our float construction, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A safety device for floats for use in combination with a fuel valve, said device including a float chamber, a water inlet to said chamber, a valve normally closing said inlet, a float connected to said inlet closure valve to actuate the same upon a drop in the liquid level in said chamber, an outlet to atmosphere from said chamber, a valve in said outlet, means connecting said outlet valve and said float, to actuate said valve in said outlet upon a drop in the liquid level in said float chamber beyond that required to open said inlet valve, a means externally of said chamber, normally closing said outlet and connected to the fuel valve to hold the same open, said last named means being operable upon an opening of said valve in said outlet to open said outlet passage and to release the holding engagement upon the fuel valve.

2. A device for controlling a boiler having heating means including a fuel line and a valve in the fuel line, the apparatus including a float chamber, means connectingthe float chamber a to the boiler to equalize pressure in the float chamber, a float valve supported within said float chamber, a liquid inlet into said float chamber, a valve controlling said inlet, means actuated by said float for controlling said valve in said liquid inlet to open said inlet when the liquid level in the float chamber drops, a vent in said float chamber, a valve normally closing said vent, means cooperable between saidfloat and said valve normally closing said vent to actuate said last named valve upon abnormal lowering of said float, means normally closing said vent and movable from vent closing position by pressure within said float chamber when said valve normally closing said vent is in open position, and means connecting said vent closing means and said valve in said fuel line, said connecting means holding said valve in said fuel line open when said vent closing means closes said vent, and means closing said valve in said fuel line when said vent closing means is out.

of vent closing position.

3. The construction described in claim 2 in which the vent closing means is releasably supported by the vent.

i. The construction described in claim 2 in which the vent closin means comprises a cap frictionally engaged on the vent.

The construction described in claim 2 in which the vent comprises a tube extending through a wall of the float chamber.

6. The construction described in claim 2 in which the vent comprises a tube extending through a wall of the float chamberand the vent closing means comprises a member frictionally engaged on the outer end of said tubular member.

7. A float for use in feeding fluid to a pressure boiler comprising a float chamber, an outlet from said float chamber connected below the liquid level of the boiler, an equalizing pressure connection connectin the top of the float chamber to a point above the liquid level of the boiler, a water inlet, a valve in said inlet, a float connected to said valve to actuate the same to open the valve when the liquid level drops, a vent tube extending through a wall of said chamber, a pivoted lever supported beneath the inner end of said vent tube, a valve in said vent tube controlled by said pivoted lever, means biasing said lever in one direction to normally close said valve in said vent tube, and means on said float engageable with said lever to pivot the lever into position to open the valve in the vent tube.

EUGENE J. LE CLAIRE. BERNARD J. HEINZMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 521,166 House et a1 June 12, 1894 590,905 Parsons Sept. 28, 1897 731,213 Pagenhart June 16, 1903 5 1,247,244 Duggan Nov. 20, 1917 1,965,052 Parker 1 July 3, 1934 2,279,976 Faust Apr. 14, 1942 

